Embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner will announce on Thursday that he will resign from Congress amid a sexting scandal.

The New York Democrat called Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.) on Wednesday night while they were at the White House Congressional picnic to inform them he had decided to resign. Weiner is expected to announce his resignation at an afternoon press conference.

Weiner faced growing pressure from party leaders to resign ever since he admitted to having inappropriate communications via social networking sites with at least six women.

Speaker John Boehner said Thursday he had not spoken with Weiner or been notified of his intention to resign. Still, the Ohio Republican called the entire episode "a distraction."

"The American people have been asking where are the jobs," Boehner said at a press conference.